Camping is a delight to many! All on your own, as a couple or out with the whole family, camping is an ideal getaway to enjoy the beauty of nature. Camping is a great way to enjoy being outdoors, but there is a lot to know before you go. Use these tips to enjoy your trip!
Pick a type of sleeping bag that happens to be appropriate for the season. If you bring a sub-zero sleeping bag to go camping in mid-summer, you might find that you are sweating all night long. Alternatively, taking a light bag in the winter can lead to great discomfort. You might even contract hypothermia.
Let all of your family members have a chance to contribute to picking a campsite. Talk about the state you wish to see. With all of the options available, it is wise to let people decide for themselves. Try to select a short-list and then put it to a family vote.
It is better to over-pack than to under-pack, especially for kids. Camping can be very messy. Children, in particular, love to get their hands in the dirt. This means that by day’s end your children and their clothes can be quite soiled. While you can’t do much to prevent that, you can at least provide clean clothing, so long as you brought extra. Stay ahead of the game!
Be sure that your tent will comfortably fit everyone that you will be sharing it with to have a good trip. This will allow everyone in your tent to be comfortable at night and to easily get up if they need to use the bathroom.
Before going camping, take a course in first aid, especially if you plan to bring children with you. If an accident occurs, you’ll need to know what you need to better the situation until you can receive medical attention. You should also do some research. Look into snake species, poisonous plants, spiders, bugs, and other animals.
No matter if you are going camping alone, or with a huge group, you need to always bring along an emergency kit. You want to bring a kit for any situation that might arise during your camping trip. Don’t forget to pack the extra for your location, too, such as antivenom for snake bites.
Buy special camping pillows instead of using your standard ones. Regular pillows do not hold up well in the outdoor air. The moisture in the air can also cause mildew. A good pillow intended for camping, however, will keep the moisture out, which will prevent any of the above problems.
Always pack enough of the proper foods. You don’t want to take food with you that will spoil easily, no matter the length of time of your trip. Food poisoning can ruin your trip in no time. Prepare all of the food you will take with your properly and find out what sort of precautions you should take.
The whole point behind camping is to be one with nature, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared for it. While you should bring a sleeping bag, you should bring additional blankets. They will provide you with extra warmth, should the temperatures plummet, as well as give you additional cushioning.
Make sure not to drain the batteries in your flashlight by accident. It can be really easy to inadvertently press the “on” switch on your flashlight when jostling through a bag of camping equipment. To make sure your batteries don’t get drained, put the batteries in backwards. Your batteries will remain fully charged until you turn them around the right direction, and you won’t be able to accidentally turn the flashlight on.
Ensure you bring some flashlights and extra batteries whenever you go camping. This will ensure everyone remains safe. Having that extra light source might help to prevent a fall or accident, or even getting lost in the woods. If you have kids with you, be sure they each have their own flashlight.
Take some time to find the right sleeping bag for the climate conditions at your campsite. Lightweight sleeping bags tend to work better in warmer weather and heavyweight sleeping bags tend to work better in colder weather. You will need sleeping bags that hug your body and help you retain body heat if you’re sleeping in a tent.
Use an orange to help prevent bug bites. If everything was packed but you didn’t remember the bug spray, don’t worry! Rubbing your exposed skin with the inside of the orange peel is something recommended by many camping experts. This should keep you free from mosquitoes and other pesky insects of the woods for hours.
Think about where to set up camp before you do. You should avoid setting up near any insect breeding grounds like wasp’s nest and beehives. If you’re in an area that is rich in vegetation, try wearing long pants and long sleeves to protect yourself from insects. This way you ensure your safety as much as possible.
It is advisable to bring beef jerky or trail mix with you on a camping trip. After a long day of outdoor activities, you will often feel too drained of energy to prepare a hot meal, so the availability of nutrient-filled snacks, such as trail mix an beef jerky, can be a real lifesaver. These foods are non-perishable; if you do not use them, you can simply bring them home.
If you are going on a camping trip, you want to be sure that you have a knife or two on hand. The versatility of a utility knife makes it priceless when you are out camping. Bring one to slip into your pocket and throw a backup knife into your bag. You never know when your utility knife will come in handy!
Although camping can be a great way to spend time away from the stress of everyday life, it can turn bad quickly if you’re not well prepared. Using the helpful advice from the article above will make your camping trip the very best and safest vacation ever.